However, Verstappen vehemently rejected speculation that he could leave Red Bull during the season. “I know what they have done for me in my career. The intention is absolutely to stay with this team,” said the 26-year-old Dutchman, who emphasized, however, that he fully supports his father’s statements. “I am my father’s son. It would be strange if I were on a different side,” said the three-time world champion.
But he wants to concentrate on his performance and racing. “I enjoy it and am happy here. As long as we deliver our performance, there is no reason to leave,” said Verstappen, whose contract with Red Bull runs until 2028. He was unimpressed by rumors about a move to Mercedes as the successor to Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari in 2025. “In life you never know 100 percent what will happen. But I don’t think about it too much,” said Verstappen.
Verstappen with clear words about the Horner affair
In the run-up to the Formula 1 race in Saudi Arabia, Max Verstappen found clear words in the affair surrounding team boss Horner. The world champion is trying to ignore the power struggle at Red Bull and doesn’t want to leave the team.
Apparently there is a deep gap in the world champion team
In the wake of the scandal surrounding Horner, who was accused of inappropriate behavior by an employee, Verstappen’s father Jos in particular distanced himself from the Brit. Although Horner was exonerated through internal investigations, he came under renewed pressure due to anonymously sent emails in the affair. Jos Verstappen therefore called for Horner to withdraw and let it be known that his son Max was also aware of this opinion. The World Cup defending champion held back from speaking out, but also from supporting Horner.
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Next chapter in Red Bull soap opera
According to various media reports, there has been a rift running through the most successful Formula 1 team of today since the death of Dietrich Mateschitz. On one side there are the Verstappen family, chief advisor Helmut Marko and, as we hear, head of design Adrian Newey. According to the “Bild” newspaper, they are supported in Jeddah by Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff. On the other side is Horner, who can count on the support of the Thai Yoovidhya clan, which holds the majority of shares in Red Bull GmbH.
Verstappen exit as the sword of Damocles
Horner was reportedly not invited to Jos Verstappen’s birthday dinner in Dubai. Apart from this, a clarifying conversation is said to have taken place between Horner and the Verstappen management. Jos Verstappen, who will take part in a rally in Belgium this weekend, has for some time been rumored to have been involved in the revelations about Horner’s interpersonal activities. The Dutchman Erik van Haren, who was the first journalist to report on it in the newspaper “De Telegraaf”, is said to have a very close relationship with the Verstappens.
The “explosion” that Jos Verstappen spoke of in an interview with the “Daily Mail” could, as things currently stand, involve his son, Marko and Newey leaving the team at the end of the season. At least that’s the leverage Horner’s opponents have in their hands to get them to retreat. Because Red Bull without Verstappen and Newey would probably only be worth half – or less.
